Shoe tree



June 1, 1943.

J. R. UDDENBORG SHOE TREE Filed March 2, 1942 Patented June 1, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE SHOE TREE Johan R. Uddenborg, Chicago, 111.

Application March 2, 1942, Serial No. 433,080

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved shoe tree or form adapted to be placed within the toe portion of a shoe for maintaining the same expanded and free of wrinkles while the shoe is not being worn.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above kind which is extremely simple and durable in construction, highly efiicient in use, and economical to manufacture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shoe tree of the above kind embodying a toe plate shaped to fit within the toe portion of a shoe, and resilient means to force the toe plate upwardly and maintain the same against rearward displacement, so as to effectively maintain the toe portion of the shoe in expanded condition free of wrinkles, provision being made for readily releasing said resilient means to permit convenient and quick removal of the shoe tree from the shoe whenever desired.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe tree constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrated as it appears in use within the toe portion of a shoe, as well as showing by dotted lines the position of parts when the shoe tree is released preparatory to removal of the same from the toe portion of the shoe.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the shoe tree shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the present shoe tree includes a stifii toe plate 5 made of sheet metal or other suitable material and shaped in convex form and proper outline to snugly fit within the toe portion of a shoe as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 1.

Carried by the toe plate 5 is resilient means for forcing the same upwardly and simultaneously engaging the insole of the shoe to maintain the toe plate 5 against rearward displacement or in its proper forward position within the toe portion of the shoe. This resilient means includes a spring member formed of resilient strap metalnally of the latter and intermediate the sides thereof by rivets I or the like. The intermediate portion of the spring has a rear part 8 which is return bent to form a grip projecting rearwardly from the toe plate 5 and inclined rearwardly and upwardly as shown, for a purpose which will presently become apparent. Finally, the spring member has rearwardly and downwardly extending end portions 9 and 9a that extend below the bottom edges of the toe plate 5 and are provided at their lowest points with teeth or roughened portions Ill and Illa adapted to engage and grip the upper surface of the insole of the shoe so as to prevent rearward displacement of the toe plate 5 from its forward position within the toe portion of the shoe. The end portions 9 and 9a have upwardly and forwardly curved terminal parts I I and I Ia whose free ends are connected by a suitable link connection and preferably including a pair of spaced link straps I2 disposed at opposite sides of the end portion 9a of the spring member and pivoted upon headed pins I3 carried by eye members I4 formed on the free ends of the end portions 9 and 9a. It will be noted that the upwardly and forwardly curved terminal part II of end portion 9a is disposed below and slightly rearwardly of the grip portion 8, so that when said grip portion 8 is grasped and the curved part I la is pulled upwardly by the finger of the same hand, the roughened or toothed portions I0 and Ifla are elevated out of gripping engagement with the insole of the shoe, as illustrated in Figure 1. In this way the shoe tree is readily and effectively released for convenient and easy removal from the shoe when desired. At the same time, when the grip 8 and curved portion Ila are released, the end portions 9 and 9a will spring downwardly and forwardly so as to force the toe plate 5 upwardly and forwardly and thereby efiectively expand the toe portion of the shoe so that the same will be maintained free of wrinkles when the shoe is not being worn. At this time, the toothed or roughened parts I0 and Illa will effectively maintain the toe plate in its forward position within the toe portion of the shoe or against rearward displacement therefrom.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a highly practical device for carrying out the stated objects of the invention. Minor changes in the details of construction illustrated and described, are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. A shoe tree comprising a toe plate of convex form and shaped to fit within the toe portion of a shoe, and resilient means carried by said toe plate and arranged for gripping engagement with the insole of the shoe to force the toe plate upwardly and maintain it against rearward displacement so as to maintain the toe portion of the shoe in expanded condition free of wrinkles, said resilient means comprising a spring member having an intermediate portion with a forward part fixed to the toe plate and a rear part return bent to provide a rearwardly and upwardly ex tending grip member, said spring member having rearwardly and downwardly extending end portions provided at their lowest points with roughened means for gripping engagement with the insole of the shoe, said end portions having upwardly and forwardly curved terminal portions, and a link connection between the ends of said terminal portions, whereby lifting of one terminal portion will cause lifting of the other for release of the shoe tree.

2. A shoe tree comprising a toe plate of convex form and shaped to fit within the toe portion of a shoe, and resilient means carried by said toe plate and arranged for gripping engagement with the insole of the shoe to force the toe plate upwardly and maintain it against rearward displacement so as to maintain the toe portion of the shoe in expanded condition free of wrinkles, said resilient means comprising a spring member having an intermediate portion with a forward part fixed to the toe plate and a rear part return bent to provide a rearwardly and upwardly extending grip member, said spring member having rearwardly and downwardly extending end portions provided at their lowest points with roughened means for gripping engagement with the insole of the shoe, said end portions having upwardly and forwardly curved terminal portions, and a link connection between the ends of said terminal portions, whereby lifting of one terminal portion will cause lifting of the other for release of the shoe tree, said terminal portions having eyes at the free ends thereof carrying transverse pivot pins, and said link connection including a pair of spaced link members engaged with said pins.

JOHAN R. UDDENBORG. 

